A team of University of Waikato researchers is leading groundbreaking research focused on optimising data ecosystems for the benefit of Indigenous societies. The research will move beyond current efforts to reduce bias in algorithms, and explore what it means to ‘decolonise’ algorithms that adversely affect Māori communities. Associate Professor Māui Hudson, Associate Professor Te Taka Keegan and Professor Tahu Kukutai (pictured) are leading the four-year research programme titled Tikanga in Technology: Indigenous Approaches to Transforming Data Ecosystems.
The research is supported by $6 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund. They will work with researchers from many other universities across New Zealand and globally to develop tools and processes that can help IT workers understand and incorporate Indigenous perspectives when working on data sets, not only in terms of storage and data processing, but also in the creation of algorithms that have the potential for bias. Situated at the interface of mātauranga Māori and data science, this interdisciplinary programme has strong support from key data stakeholders across Te Ao Māori and Government.